Friday and Saturday, March 8 & 9, 2013 (Tulalip Casino and Travel to Vancouver Island, BC)

We woke to heavy fog Friday morning and it was cold!  With no electrical hookups, we couldn't have our portable heaters on so we had the furnace on low (50F/10C) throughout the night...but I cranked it up as soon as I got up!

We spent most of the morning packing the truck with things that we need to take over to the island with us after we drop off the fifth-wheel in storage once we get to Langley, BC. (Including everything required to go ATVing and a possible camping trip with the club.) So Steve was outside re-arranging things in the truck and packing things in while I was inside packing the suitcase.

By early afternoon, the fog had lifted for the most part and some sun was actually making its way through.  We decided to take a walk over to Cabelas (yes, another Cabelas Store!)...this is the front of Tulalip Resort Casino...

Once back from Cabelas, we just chilled out in the trailer sitting in our recliners reading and enjoying the afternoon sunshine as it poured in through the side window.  Just before 4:00 we headed over to the casino to "give our donation"...oh, I mean try our luck on the slots.  After a drink at the bar, we wandered around trying to find "that" lucky machine.  An hour later, we were back home...I had left $20 in various slots, while Steve decided only to spend $10.  The slots seemed to have changed since we were here last September...they've gotten far more expensive with the majority of penny slots having a minimum 40 cents to $1.50/bet...gee, why do they even call them penny slots anymore? Last September Steve paid for his new chest waders with his $304.00 winnings.

After dinner, we watched a few episodes of Homeland and then called it a night...we have an early morning tomorrow.

I was up at 5:00 Saturday morning...another cold morning!  It was only 27F/-2C...brrr! Before hitting the road north back into Canada, we were going to the local Les Schwab dealer to have one of the trailer's tires checked.  Steve had noticed an indentation in it and with the tires being less than a year old, we wanted to get it checked.

We arrived at Les Schwab shortly after 8:00 but had to wait for a semi-trailer first before they could inspect our tires. The indentation is supposedly normal on many tires...(really?)...however they noticed a small bulge in another spot and said the tire kissed something but they would warranty it under a normal road hazard condition.  They measure the tread wear (62% left)  and pro rate the warranty according to how much tread is left so we were still charged $78.00.  If its 25% or less you get a free tire replacement. Steve told them that he didn't agree with their assessment as the old tire didn't look any different than the new tire...(38% worn in less than 12 months?!) Oh well...it is what it is...they could of said sorry you hit something no warranty. Just over an hour later, we were on our way with a new tire.

We certainly have been lucky with the weather on our travel days and today was no exception...it was just beautiful!  We stopped at a rest area about 3 miles down the I-5 to empty our holding tanks.  That is something we find awesome with the rest stops in Washington State...a good deal of them have large free sani-dumps.

Then it was time to head north!  What an awesome day!

This is a shot of Mount Baker...

We crossed the Skagit River in Mount Vernon...

...and then as we got closer to the border, we stopped in Ferndale for one last fuel up...here's Buster with all the "big boys" at the Pilot Truck Stop...


About two hours after we left Les Schwab, we were sitting at the truck border crossing waiting in line to get back into Canada...it took about 40 minutes to get through and soon we were on our way to Econo Storage in Langley.


We were given spot 624 which is definitely the easiest spot to get into that we have ever had...right on the edge of the driveway through to another section of the storage facility.  So it took no time to get it parked and unhitched.  I emptied what was left in the fridge into a cooler while Steve took care of things outside.


Soon we were on our way to the ferry...the causeway to the BC Ferry Terminal...

We arrived at the terminal at 3:15, missing the 3:00 ferry...so we would have to wait until the 5:00.  We wandered into the terminal and grabbed a cup of coffee and then went back to the truck.  Steve read his book on the iPad while I unwrapped my new toy...a Kindle...now we both have something to read our books from.

So it didn't really seem all that long before we were boarding the ferry and heading upstairs to find the cafeteria...Steve managed to get a great window table...



One of the ferries that services the gulf islands...

We passed another ferry heading to the mainland...this was in Active Pass...

We arrived at Rob and Angie's just before 7:00...and we both got to hold our grandson, Conner, for the very first time...


The first of many cuddles...he's a very special little guy and we could both hardly wait to meet him in person! We are really looking forward to spending the next month at our "other home" getting to know him...and catching up with family and friends!

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